Kuala Lumpur streets are usually crowded during Ramadan

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, November 5 (IslamOnline.net) – The multitude of dishes and affordable pricing in local markets during the holy month of Ramadan attracts thousands across the country to try something new every day.

"I usually cook at home, which is fun and also cheaper for me since I have a huge family, however, in Ramadan, it’s the food sold at the stalls outside that are an attraction," Zuraina, a housewife who ordered "nasi dagang" or gluttonous rice cooked with tuna fish, told IslamOnline.net.

The popular footstalls specially opened for Ramadan across the country are visited by huge crowds and sometimes cause traffic jams at road junctions since many of these markets are within housing areas.

As early as 5 pm in the evening, residents of such residential areas would head towards the ‘pasar ramadan’ which is the local name given to the open stalls to buy their favorite foods.

"Working folks do not have enough time to cook for the ‘buka puasa’ so they rush to these makeshift stalls, which are licensed by the way to get their food," added a jovial Zuraina.

Authorities in Malaysia have adopted the policy of offering limited time permits to people working for local municipalities or village assemblies to be party to the ‘pasar ramadan’.

The vendors are allowed to sell anything from fried chicken to dates and fruits and they are not taxed or harassed in their business for the entire month.

Favorite Meal

Gluttonous rice is a basic component of some of the most popular foods in Malaysia and its popularity goes even beyond the borders of the multi-racial nation.

Originally from Thailand, the rice is popular in Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia.

It is also part and parcel of the “Hari Raya” or Eid El Fitr celebrations in these countries.

The rice is also used to make the “lemang”, which is the most popular and favorite food for Eid el Fitr in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

The ‘lemang” is made of gluttonous rice baked in bamboos and is eaten with specially cooked meat and chicken, called the “rendang”, a known specialty of the Johore-Riau peninsula, which itself was once a mighty Malay empire.

However the ‘lemang’ is popular for the Eid, which will likely fall on November 25, and is rarely found before that time.

The gluttonous rice is also used in making a variety of delicacies for the ‘buka puasa’, and all these are available in the local markets near the housing areas.

Nevertheless, the most popular food for the Malays in Malaysia in particular remains ‘chicken rice’ or ‘fried rice’ though many people are still happy to have a nice bowl of ‘rice porridge’, which is an Indian-Pakistani specialty offered in mosques.

Huge queues can still be seen at the popular Masjid India and Jalan Masjid where people would line-up with empty pots for their favorite ‘buka puasa’ menu.

"Rice porridge is a very popular Indian food that has made its way in Malaysia and even in Singapore where the folks would line-up daily at the mosques offering such foods, " said Alia, a Singaporean born living in Malaysia.

"I would ask my husband to line up at the Masjid India mosque just to get me the nice rice porridge once a while. He would be very obliging since he too enjoys the porridge," added a smiling Alia.